Dusty Baker has had better days.

His Reds are hoping to make their second-half move behind their young power pitchers Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez. Starting pitching is supposed to be the team’s strength.

But the Cards rocked former ace Bronson Arroyo in a 10-1 victory Sunday.

“You always think it can’t get worse,” Reds manager Dusty Baker told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “My daddy told me, don’t think that, because it can get worse. And it got worse.”

It sure did. The Phillies plundered Cueto during Monday night’s epic 22-1 win. Philly scored 10 first-inning runs to knock Cueto out of the game.

“That’s the worst I can remember on a baseball field,” Baker said. “I don’t know what happened in the first. I can’t explain it.”

Cueto retired slugger Ryan Howard for the second out of the first inning, but failed to get anybody else out. Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels delivered the kill shot with a two-run double.

“They told me (Cueto) didn’t look good warming up,” Baker said. “Sometimes, that doesn’t mean anything. Tonight, it meant something.”

The game never got better for the Reds. Poor Paul Janish, a shortstop by trade, finished up the game in relief for Cincinnati. He allowed the final six runs to the merciless Phillies.

Baker wasn’t thrilled about asking a position player to pitch. “I had never done that before in managerial career,” Baker said. “ Now I’ve done it twice already this year.”

That’s not a good sign.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while waiting for outfielders Rick Ankiel and Chris Duncan to salvage their seasons:

• Now that new owners are rescuing the Cubs from the Tribune Co.’s bankruptcy mess, will GM Jim Hendry get some more money to spend?
• Why, again, are fans cheering the return of Manny Ramirez?
• Who could have guessed that Kurt Warner doesn’t always feel like king of his castle?
• Will Missouri’s All-Star cash grab hurt the Our Town’s national image?
• Why don’t more hecklers come prepared with good material?
• Why would anybody take financial advice from a long snapper?
• Will the Cubs ever invite Erik Estrada back to Wrigley Field after Monday night’s fiasco?
• Why is the American male so fascinated with explosives at this time of year?

WHEN CYCLING GETS INTERESTING

The Tour de France is a tough sell to casual sports fans in America, but that doesn’t mean the sport is always dull to watch.

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “Great idea, expanding All-Star Game rosters from 31 to 33. Why showcase the game’s true superstars when you can run Joe Journeyman into the Midsummer Classic? Also new this year: In each dugout, one of those take-a-number dispensers.”

Jay Mariotti, FanHouse: “Just to refresh your memory, Manny Ramirez is a shamed steroid cheat. He used a female fertility drug that produced artificial testosterone, making him the latest in a pathetic line of high-profile players who have done performance-enhancers and contaminated an entire baseball era. He also is a petty quitter, having stopped running out groundballs in a hissy-fit ploy that forced the Red Sox to trade him to the Dodgers. So why were people cheering him when he returned last weekend after a 50-game suspension? And giving him long, robust standing ovations? And proudly wearing $22 concession-stand dreadlocks and No. 99 jerseys? And waving signs that said ‘We Still Love You, Manny’ and ‘It’s all about the dreads, not the Meds’ — stadium greeting cards that made him feel good when he should be feeling like, well, a convicted scumbag?”

Jim Caple, ESPN: “Did you catch this line in the story about Pittsburgh’s trading Eric Hinske to the Yankees for two minor league prospects? ‘In addition (to Hinske), the Pirates will give the Yankees cash.’ As my colleague, Paul Lukas, put it, there is just something fundamentally wrong with a transaction that sees money (in this case $400,000) going from the Pirates to the Yankees. What’s next? The Pirates will mow the outfield grass and whitewash the fences?”

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “Danica Patrick is considering switching next year to NASCAR, where she can become a star attraction known for being immensely popular and not winning races, just like Dale Earnhardt Jr.!”

MEGAPHONE

“On the field I gave everything I had. I know that’s one thing the fans always appreciated. I think when you look back on anyone’s life, there’s always something you could do different. I’m no different. Everybody’s got to look in the mirror at some time. But when I look in the mirror, I also know I did everything I could with good conscience and a good heart. Hopefully, I showed how much I respected the game.”

A’s slugger Nomar Garciaparra, according to Yahoo! Sports, reflecting on his earlier life as a Red Sock.

ELSEWHERE ON STLTODAY

It’s only fitting that Ryan Franklin make this All-Star Game, since he is the perfect symbol of this era of Cardinals baseball.

Hockey Guy is pleased with the re-signing of B.J. Crombeen.

Fans were in a much better mood this week in my live chat.